Page 178 of Bitter’s Sweet

It should make this easier.

It does not.

“That's what it was.”

Trixie swears.

Nevermore turns away like he cannot watch.

Mercy takes my hand.

I let her.

I stare at Bitter.

There is one question left.

I did not think I would ask it in front of everyone.

I do not care anymore.

“Was any of it real?”

His face empties.

That hurts before he even answers.

“Sweet.”

“No.”

My voice shakes.

I hate that.

I steady it.

“You wanted to do this in public, so answer me in public.”

His eyes flash.

Maybe he did not mean for this to happen here.

Too bad.

“You told everybody I was nothing. So tell me.”

I pull my hand from Mercy’s because I need to stand alone for this.

“Was any of it real?”

Bitter looks at me.

Really looks.

For one heartbeat, the entire garage vanishes from his face.

He looks like the man in bed with me. The man who kissed my palm. The man who looked broken when I trusted him. The man who asked before touching. The man who fixed my lock because he wanted me safe without making my world smaller.